External data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof

Abstract

An external data processing device to interface with an ambulatory repeater and method thereof is presented. An external data processing device is interfaced in far field telemetric communication with an ambulatory repeater. The external data processing device receives sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable medical device over a secure connection from the ambulatory repeater. Physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater are received by the external data processing device over a non-secure connection.

1. A method for retrieving information from an implantable medical device, comprising:
 activating an ambulatory repeater; 
 securely obtaining a cryptographic key uniquely assigned to an implantable device from the implantable device to the ambulatory repeater; 
 interrogating the implantable medical device with the ambulatory repeater to access patient health information, wherein the patient health information comprise sensitive information and physiological measures; 
 securely receiving sensitive information from the implantable medical device with the ambulatory repeater, wherein the sensitive information is preencrypted under the cryptographic key; 
 non-securely receiving physiological measures retrieved from the implantable medical device via the ambulatory repeater; 
 interfacing a base repeater with the ambulatory repeater through far field telemetric communication; 
 opening a secure connection between the ambulatory repeater and the base repeater; 
 securely exchanging the sensitive information from the ambulatory repeater with the base repeater; 
 closing the secure connection between the ambulatory repeater and the base repeater; and 
 transmitting the patient health information from the base repeater to a server. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising one of:
 providing a dedicated monitoring module matched to the implantable medical device; 
 storing the physiological measures, the processor further comprising a processing module operative on the physiological measures; and 
 providing a clinical interrogation interface to a plurality of implantable medical devices. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 issuing a data transfer trigger over the ambulatory repeater interface to the ambulatory repeater. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a system-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to a device-specific circumstance. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the data transfer trigger comprises a health-based data transfer trigger occurring in response to at least one of a detected prescribed health status and a detected alert condition. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scheduling interrogations of the implantable medical device by the ambulatory repeater; and 
 uploading the schedule to the ambulatory repeater. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the far field telemetry is selected from at least one of radio frequency telemetry and cellular telemetry. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiological measures comprises at least one of physiological and behavioral data. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 opening a non-secure connection between the ambulatory repeater and the base repeater; 
 exchanging the sensitive information from the ambulatory repeater with the base repeater; and 
 closing the non-secure connection between the ambulatory repeater and the base repeater. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein non-sensitive information is sent in parallel to the sensitive information. 
     
     
       11. An ambulatory repeater system for providing automated patient care, comprising:
 a sensor to directly monitor a patient and to record physiological measures on an ad hoc basis; 
 an implantable medical device comprising:
 a sensor interface; 
 a memory comprising:
 physiological measures periodically retrieved over the sensor interface; 
 a secure key repository for maintaining one or more cryptographic keys; and 
 stored sensitive information; and 
 
 
 an ambulatory repeater, comprising:
 a processor comprising:
 an authentication module to authenticate authorization from an external data processing device to interrogate the implantable medical device and to securely obtain the one or more cryptographic keys uniquely assigned to the implantable medical device from the secure key repository of the implantable medical device; 
 
 
 a telemetry transceiver to interface to the implantable medical device through wireless telemetry upon securing authorization and to obtain the sensitive information and physiological measures; and 
 a communications module to decrypt the sensitive information using the cryptographic key and to facilitate exchange of the sensitive information and the physiological measures with an external data processing device; 
 wherein the ambulatory repeater is selected from the group consisting of a wearable form factor and a handheld form factor. 
 
     
     
       12. The ambulatory repeater apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is one of external to and integrated directly into the ambulatory repeater. 
     
     
       13. The ambulatory repeater apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor interface operates over at least one of inductive telemetry and radio frequency telemetry. 
     
     
       14. The ambulatory repeater apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is selected from at least one of weight scale, blood pressure monitor, electrocardiograph, and Holter monitor. 
     
     
       15. A method for providing automated patient care using an ambulatory repeater apparatus, comprising:
 directly monitoring a patient via a sensor and recording physiological measures on an ad hoc basis; 
 providing an implantable medical device, comprising:
 interfacing to the sensor and periodically retrieving the physiological measures; and 
 storing sensitive information preencrypted prior to implant under a cryptographic key uniquely assigned; and 
 
 providing an ambulatory repeater, comprising:
 authenticating authorization from an external data processing device to interrogate the implantable medical device; 
 securely obtaining the cryptographic key from the implantable medical device; 
 interfacing to the implantable medical device through wireless telemetry upon securing the authorization; 
 obtaining the sensitive information and the physiological measures from the implantable medical device; 
 decrypting the sensitive information using the cryptographic key; and 
 exchanging the secure information and the physiological measures with an external data processing device; 
 wherein the ambulatory repeater is selected from the group consisting of a wearable form factor and a handheld form factor. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is one of external to and integrated directly into the ambulatory repeater. 
     
     
       17. The A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the interfacing of the implantable medical device and the sensor operates over at least one of inductive telemetry and radio frequency telemetry. 
     
     
       18. The A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is selected from at least one of weight scale, blood pressure monitor, electrocardiograph, and Holter monitor.